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INEOS and The Carlyle Group agree to combine INEOS Silicas and PQ Corporation

INEOS has announced today that it has reached an agreement in which the PQ Corporation, the speciality chemical company acquired in July 2007 by The Carlyle Group, will combine with INEOS Silicas. Under the terms of the proposed agreement, The Carlyle Group will have an approximate 60% share and INEOS approximately 40%. The financial terms are not disclosed.

The combined business will become a global producer of speciality inorganic chemicals, catalysts, and engineered glass products with annual sales revenue of US$1 billion. Andy Currie, Director of INEOS Capital, who will serve as a Director on the Board of the new company, said, “This is a well-timed next step in the development of INEOS Silicas. Operating under single ownership presents both businesses and their customers with new opportunities. PQ brings with it unique benefits in terms of its people and its technology, incorporating some of the world’s leading product and process innovation.”On 1st June 2007, The Carlyle Group announced its plans to acquire PQ Corporation, based in Pennsylvania. The deal completed in July. PQ Corporation develops, manufactures and sells high performance silicate-based speciality chemicals, catalytic Zeolites and Zeolite-based catalysts as well as manufacturing and selling highly engineered glass spheres. It employs 1,900 people across 60 manufacturing sites in 19 countries.

Andrew Marino, Principal of The Carlyle Group, said, “This transaction represents the combination of two successful and complementary companies to create a business with increased capabilities and market coverage to better serve our customers in the inorganic speciality chemicals space. We look forward to working closely with our new partners at INEOS to maximize the growth opportunities of the new company.”

INEOS Silicas is a manufacturer of silicates, zeolites and silicas. The business has manufacturing sites in the UK (Warrington), Netherlands (Eijsden), USA (Joliet), Brazil (Jacana and Rio Claro), South Africa (Durban and Johannesburg) and Indonesia (Pasuruan) and employs around 850 people.

Iain Hogan, Chief Executive Officer of INEOS Silicas said: “I am very excited by the opportunities that this merger will create for INEOS Silicas and its employees. PQ is the ideal partner for our business due to its product portfolio and market coverage. The new company will be able to deliver new opportunities for innovation and growth that will provide significant benefit to our customers."

The combined company will be called PQ Corporation. Mike Boyce, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PQ, will serve in that same capacity following the close of the transaction. “Our strategy at PQ has and will continue to be profitable growth of our business,” Boyce said. “A combination with INEOS Silicas offers an immediate way to achieve an enhanced global presence, which will result in a greater ability to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations. Additionally, the size and growth profile of this new company will allow for better access to capital for future investments in growth opportunities.”

Completion of the transaction is subject to approval by the regulatory authorities.

INEOS is the world's third largest chemicals company; a leading manufacturer of petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and oil products. Comprising 18 businesses, with a production network spanning 73 manufacturing facilities in 18 countries, the company produces more than 30 million tonnes of petrochemicals, 20 million tons per annum of crude oil refined products (fuels). INEOS employs 16,600 people and has sales of around $39bn.

The Carlyle Group (www.carlyle.com) is a global private equity firm with $75.6 billion under management committed to 55 funds. Carlyle invests in buyouts, venture & growth capital, real estate and leveraged finance in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America focusing on aerospace & defense, automotive & transportation, consumer & retail, energy & power, financial services, healthcare, industrial, infrastructure, technology & business services and telecommunications & media. Since 1987, the firm has invested $34 billion of equity in 686 transactions for a total purchase price of $157.7 billion. The Carlyle Group employs more than 900 people in 21 countries. In the aggregate, Carlyle portfolio companies have more than $87 billion in revenue and employ more than 286,000 people around the world. In June 2007 Carlyle Group announced the acquisition of PQ Corporation.

PQ Corporation (www.pqcorp.com) is a leading producer of inorganic specialty chemicals and engineered glass materials. The Company conducts operations through three principal businesses: the Performance Chemicals division, which develops, manufactures and sells high performance silicate-based specialty chemicals, the Catalyst division, a leading producer of high performance catalytic Zeolites and Zeolite-based catalysts and polyolefin catalysts and the Potters division, which manufactures and sells highly engineered solid and hollow glass spheres. The Company’s products are used in variety of applications in a diverse range of industrial, consumer and governmental end-markets. The Company employs 1,900 people across 60 manufacturing sites in 19 countries on five continents and has one of the most comprehensive global manufacturing and distribution networks serving customers in the Company’s end-markets.

INEOS is a global manufacturer of petrochemicals, speciality chemicals and oil products. It comprises 34 businesses each with a major chemical company heritage. Its production network spans 171 sites in 24 countries throughout the world.